Regions and districts

Somalia is officially divided into eighteen regions , which in turn are subdivided into districts. The regions are:

Region	Area (km2)	Population	Capital
Awdal	21,374	673,263	Borama
Woqooyi Galbeed	28,836	1,242,003	Hargeisa
Togdheer	38,663	721,363	Burao
Sanaag	53,374	544,123	Erigavo
Sool	25,036	327,428	Las Anod
Bari	70,088	719,512	Bosaso
Nugal	26,180	392,697	Garowe
Mudug	72,933	717,863	Galkayo
Galguduud	46,126	569,434	Dusmareb
Hiran	31,510	520,685	Beledweyne
Middle Shabelle	22,663	516,036	Jowhar
Banaadir	370	1,650,227	Mogadishu
Lower Shabelle	25,285	1,202,219	Barawa
Bakool	26,962	367,226	Xuddur
Bay	35,156	792,182	Baidoa
Gedo	60,389	508,405	Garbahaarreey
Middle Juba	9,836	362,921	Bu’aale
Lower Juba	42,876	489,307	Kismayo

Location

Somalia is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Guardafui Channel and Indian Ocean to the east, and Ethiopia to the west. It lies between latitudes 2°S and 12°N, and longitudes 41° and 52°E. Strategically located at the mouth of the Bab el Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the country occupies the tip of a region that, due to its resemblance on the map to a rhinoceros‘ horn, is commonly referred to as the Horn of Africa.

Waters

Somalia has the longest coastline on the mainland of Africa, with a seaboard that stretches 3,025 kilometres (1,880 mi). Its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. The nation has a total area of 637,657 square kilometres (246,201 sq mi) of which constitutes land, with 10,320 square kilometres (3,980 sq mi) of water. Somalia’s land boundaries extend to about 2,340 kilometres (1,450 mi); 58 kilometres (36 mi) of that is shared with Djibouti, 682 kilometres (424 mi) with Kenya, and 1,626 kilometres (1,010 mi) with Ethiopia. Its maritime claims include territorial waters of 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi).

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